Meow @ Calgary Cat Clinic . Com | Happy Birthday, Thor!
One of the Money and Meaning back office team, Kerri to be exact, received this email last week, and was so delighted by it, shared it with us all. Some of you have had the pleasure of working with Kerri on your team, so you know of whom I speak. 
The is a lovely example of meaningful, relationship-building (permission-based) email from a veterinarian’s office, of all places, so no more complaints saying ‘I don’t know how to make online marketing work for my dentist/health food/photocopy/restaurant/other business!
In fact, see whether you can think of a way to model this email, and imagine what kind of dialog you could foster, done right…
—–Original Message—–
From: Calgary Cat Clinic [mailto:meow@calgarycatclinic.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:35 AM
To: kerri martin
Subject: Happy Birthday, Thor!
Dear Thor,
We heard a rumor that someone very special is having a birthday this month — you! We hope it’s a memorable one, full of fun and hugs from your favorite humans.
Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy birthday and many more to come. Oh, and one more thing — let your favorite human handle the birthday candles!
Sincerely,
Your friends at Calgary Cat Clinic
Telephone: (403) 289-9999
P.S. If we’ve goofed and your birthday isn’t this month, your human friend can let us know by signing into your Pet Portal at http://www.calgarycatclinic.com and updating your information.
*****************************************************
Pssst, pet owner…
If you’d prefer not to receive e-mail messages from us, just sign into your Pet Portal and update your account
information to change your e-mail preferences.
We respect your privacy and use our e-mail list for hospital communications only.
———–end original email————–
Here’s Kerri’s comment to the team:
From: Kerri Martin
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 12:36 PM
To: ‘Tina Forsyth’; ‘[From Andrea Lee]‘; ‘Cindy Greenway, Virtual Manager’
Subject: FW: Happy Birthday, Thor!
Hehe, I didn’t know Thor’s birthday was the day after mine.
I’ll have to tell the cat clinic good use of autoresponders…
And here’s my reply to Kerri:
—– Original Message —–
From: [From Andrea Lee]
Date: Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:54 pm
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday, Thor!
hehe
the only thing they need to add is ‘by the way have you had your shots lately? click here to book your special grooming birthday appointment 10% off!
lol.
—–end email exchange—-
And that, dear readers, is your random behind-the-scenes peek into the world of email here at Money, Meaning and Beyond. 
P.S. For our Calgary-based readers, yes, the clinic is a terrific spot for your feline friends…recommended highly by Kerri herself, once a Veterinary Technician, I believe. It’s conveniently located on Crowchild Trail across from McMahon stadium in the NW. No Pink Spoon yet, however.
